Rich Pawlowicz

Rich Pawlowicz is a Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at The University of British Columbia (Vancouver Campus). He joined UBC's faculty in 1996 after postdoctoral work at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, BC. His research focuses on ocean dynamics, including coastal mixing processes, internal tides, and estuarine circulation, with a strong emphasis on the waters around British Columbia. He is known for developing new methods in flow visualization using acoustics and optics, as well as contributions to the Thermodynamic Equation of Seawater (TEOS-10).

Education:

• B.Sc. (Hons) in Earth Sciences from Queen's University (1987)
• Ph.D. from the WHOI/MIT Joint Program (1994)

Research Interests: Pawlowicz's work integrates field observations with mathematical analysis to understand oceanographic phenomena. Key areas include tidal modulation, river plume dynamics, harmful algal blooms in the Strait of Georgia, and coastal current behavior. His methodologies involve advanced instrumentation like HF radar, drifter deployments, and MATLAB-based data analysis tools.

Grants and Leadership: He chairs the JCS (Joint SCOR/IAPWS/IAPSO Committee on Seawater Properties) and leads the MEOPAR Observation Core. His research has been supported by grants focusing on contaminant dispersion, coastal mixing, and oceanographic instrumentation.

Labs and Teams: Directs the Ocean Dynamics Laboratory (ODL) at UBC, which develops low-cost surface drifters and conducts long-term oceanographic monitoring projects such as the Strait of Georgia Atlas and citizen science initiatives.